Adjustable rack for stretching lace cu rtains



(No Model.)

' G. L. KUEHN. ADJUSTABLE RACK FOR STRETGHING LACE CURTAINS, &c.

Patented May 29, 1894:.

Wiiflesses Z e U ITE STATES ATENT Fries.

CHARLES L. KUEHN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ADJUSTABLE RACK FOR STRETCHING LACE CURTAINS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,690, dated May 29, 1894.

Application filed September 4, 1893- Serial No. 484,716- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: bar 12 is constructed with two parallel bars 16 Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. KUEHN, of and 17 and the end 13 of the bar 12 is placed St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented between these bars 16 and 17, and held in po- 55 certain new and useful Improvements in Adsition by bolts 18. 19 indicates a horizontal justable Racks for Stretching Lace Curtains bar which is constructed of two parallel bars and Similar Articles, of which the following 20 and 21, they being connected together at is a full, clear, and exact description, refertheir ends by a short bar 22 being located beence being had to the accompanying drawtween them, and held in position by bolts 23, 6o ings, forming a part hereof. the short bars 22 projecting a suitable dis- Io My invention relates to an improved adtance beyond the ends of the bars 20 and 21 j ustable rack for stretching lace curtains and to allow them to be placed between the bars similar articles, and consists in the novel con- 5 and 6 of the posts 2 and 3, one end of each struction, combination and arrangement of of said bars engaging each post, and held in 65 parts as will be more fully described and desposition by pins 24 passing through apertures I5 ignated in the claims. A 25 formed in the bars 5 and 6 of the posts,

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective and apertures formed in the adjacent end of View of my complete rack, showing the same the bar 22 the apertures in one bar being in ready for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical alignment with the apertures in the adjacent 7 o cross-section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged bar. By the construction of these apertures,

20 side elevation of one of the end posts with the bar 19 can be vertically adjusted in the parts broken away, showing the connection posts. of the horizontal bars. Fig. 4 is an enlarged The bars 16 and 17, which form the horidetail perspective more clearly showing a dezontal bars 12, are provided with a suitable 7 tachable pad, which I use in carrying out my number of apertures 26 and the bars 20 and 5 invention. 21, which form the bars 19, are also provided 1 indicates an adjustable rack, which is conwith a like number of apertures 27, these structed of two vertical posts 2 and 3, which apertures in the adjacent bars being in alignare provided with supports 4 at their lower ment with each other. So ends. These posts being exactly the samein 28indicates a vertical bar which is horizonconstruction, I will describe but one. The tally adjustably mounted in the bars 19 and post is constructed with two vertical parallel 12. The lower end of said bar is provided bars 5 and 6, which are held a suitable diswith an aperture and a pin 29 is passed tance apart by blocks 7, 8 and 9 being placed through an aperture 26 in the bar 12 and 85 between them, and held in position by bolts through an aperture in the lower end of sa d 10, or any well known means. The block 7 bar which holds said end in position. A pin is located at the top, and the blocks 8 and 9 30 is passed through an aperture in the bar are located adjacent the bottom of said bars. 19 and through an aperture in the upper end These posts are connected to the supports 4 of the bar 28, which holds the upper end of 90 and provided with braces 11. The block 9 is said bar in position. The upper end of the 4 located a suitable distance above the block 8, bar 28'is provided with aseries of apertures 31.

which forms an opening between said blocks. 32 indicates pads which are connected to Located in this opening is one end of a horieach side of the posts 2 and 3, as shown in zontal bar 12, the opposite end being located Figs. 1,2, and 3 and held in position by being 5 in the other post in the same manner. The tacked along each side and at their ends.

upper end of the block 8 is cut at an angle. These pads extend from the top of the brace The end 13 ot' the horizontal bar 12 is formed 11 to the top of said posts. on its lower edge with a notch 14, which en- 33 indicates pads which are connected to gages the angle end of the block 8 so when a the bar 19, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and [00 wedge 15 is driven in between the block 9 extend the entire length of said bar, they be- 5 and the top of the end 13 it will rigidly coning connected to said bar by the same means nect the horizontal bar 12 with the posts 3. as the pads 32 are connected to the posts.

(See Fig. 3 for illustration.) The horizontal The bar 12 is provided with pads 34 located on said bar in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and connected to said bar by the same means as are used with the pads Connected to each side of the vertical bar 28 and extending upward a suitable distance from the bar 12 are short bars 35. These bars are to enlarge the bar 28 so that its sides will be in alignment with the sides of the bar 12. Connected to one side of each of these bars 35 is a pad 36, which is connected to the bar by the same means as the pads 34 are connected to the bar 12. Detachably connected to the upper end of the vertical bar 28, as shown in Fig. 1, are two bars 37 and 38. These bars are hinged together at one edge by a piece of canvas 39, or like material, the canvas being wide enough so that the bars 37 and 38 can be separated so they will engage the opposite side of the bar 28, they being held in position after being placed on thebar 28 by a hook 40 connected to the bar 37 and engaging an eye 41, which is connected to the adjacent edge of the bar 38. The parts 44 and 45 are in every way similarly constructed, as are the bars 37 and 38, but are shorter and of differing lengths, their purposes willbe hereinafter shown. Connected to these bars 37 and 38, as shown in Fig. 4, are pads 42. These pads all being the same in construction, I will now proceed to describe one of them.

A piece of canvas, or like material, is cut in strips of the desired width and length. After one edge is tacked in the required position a suitable amount of hair, cotton, or any suitable material is placed beneath the canvas and the opposite edge is tacked down over the cotton or hair in position,thus making a very convenient pad for a purpose hereinafter mentioned. These pads are constructed with a suitable number of stripes 43. These stripes being of different color than the body of the pads and are parallel with the edges of said pads. By these stripes a person pinning a curtain on will be guided, and thus be able to get the curtain straighter than they would were the stripes omitted. I

The operation is as follows: After curtains have been laundered and it is desired to place them on the rack for drying, the operator first removes the pin 29 and 30 and slips the ver tical bar adjacent one end of said rack and removes the bars 37 and 38 by disengaging the hook 40. When this is done the horizontal bar 19 can be adjusted vertically by re moving the pins 24 which will allow said bar to be so adjusted. When it has been adjusted to the required size, the operator pins one side of the curtain to the pad 33 which is carried by the bar 19, and the opposite side of said curtain to the pad 34 carried by the horizontal bar 12. After the sides have been socurely pinned, the operator pins one end of said curtain to the pad 32 carried by the post 2. When this is done the operator moves the vertical bar up adjacent the free end of the curtain and places bars such as 44 or 45, whichever may be the desired length, on the bar 28. When they are in place their position will be the same as the bars 37 and 38. After this is done the operator pins the loose end of the curtain to the pads carried by the bar 28. After the curtain has been securely pinned to the pads as stated, the operator can stretch the curtain the required size by raising the bar 19 up and moving the bar 28 outward from said curtain. The bar 19 can be readily held in position at any point by the pins 24, and the bar 28 can be held at any convenient point by the pins 29 and 30.

By the construction herein described, the rack can be readily and quickly adjusted to fit curtains of different sizes.

Two curtains of the same size can be dried on the rack at the same time, one being placed on each side of said rack in the manner hereinbefore described.

When it is desired to ship or store the rack, it can readily be taken apart by removing the wedges 15 which will allow the end blocks 13 of the bar 12 to be removed from the posts 2 and 3. When this is done the rack can be placed in a very compact position, thus making it very convenient for shipping or storing.

What I claim is-- 1. An adjustable rack for drying curtains, constructed of two vertical posts, two horizontal parallel bars mounted in said posts, a vertical bar mounted in said horizontal bars, and pads of the class described in combination with said posts and bars, said pads constructed with stripes parallel with their sides, substantially as set forth.

2. An adjustable rack constructed with two vertical posts, a horizontal bar 12 detachably located in the lower ends of said posts, a horizontal bar 19 vertically adjustably located in the upper end of said posts, a vertical bar 28 horizontally adjustably located in the bars 12 and 19, detachable bars 37 and 38 carrying pads 42, said bars being hinged together and detachably connected to the bar 28 by a hook 40 connected to the bar 37 and engaging an eye 41 connected to the adjacent edge of the bar 38, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. KUEIIN.

Witnesses:

W. J. SANKEY, J NO. 0. HIGDON.

IIO 

